The thief also admitted swiping a watch from Debenhams when he appeared at Southend Magistrates' Court.

Lesley Chipps, prosecuting, said: 'On January 18, Balog went into Debenhams and selected and concealed a watch worth £30 and left without paying.

Theft: Balog was made to pay for the cufflink by the judge

'Mr Balog said it was a possible gift for his partner who had a birthday the following weekend.

'On January 29 Mr Balog entered a jewelry store and he was shown various items. He was seen opening up some drawers. He left the shop. A short time later the staff checked and a gold cufflink was missing valued at £130.

'In interview he said he was looking for a possible gift for his mother when he saw the cuff links and he had taken one.'

Shaven-headed Balog, from Southend-on-Sea, was caught after police issued CCTV footage of a one-armed man in a bomber jacket, pinching a cufflink shaped like a boxing glove.

He appeared in the dock wearing an orange and white tracksuit top and blue jeans. He spoke to confirm his name, age and address.

Paul White, mitigating, said Czech Balog's English was 'reasonable' and he had been in the country a while.

He lived with his girlfriend and their three children and received £75 a week disability living allowance.

Balog pleaded guilty to two counts of theft on February 18. He was given a 12-month community sentence and ordered to do 120 hours of unpaid work.

Balog was also ordered to pay £130 compensation to the jeweller and court costs of £105.